Hundreds across West Norfolk take part in first Scotty’s Day

Hundreds of people backed the latest bid by an army widow to raise funds for bereaved military children in memory of her husband.

Nikki Scott has already raised more than half a million pounds through the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers in memory of Cpl Lee Scott, of North Wootton.

This week, she named the fourth anniversary of his death Scotty’s Day and she and her team enticed people from as far afield as Scotland to hold events to raise money for the charity on the day.

In Edinburgh, nine-year-old Jayme-Leigh Muirhead, whose father is a soldier, shaved her hair off and donated it to a children’s cancer charity for use in a wig, raising £1,300.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers funds treats, trips and activities for families of the fallen.

It already has two holiday homes available for their use and Nikki is now looking into buying a third.

Stacey Gorman, Scotty’s Little Soldier worker, said: “The support that people gave to Scotty’s Day was overwhelming.

“Hopefully it has served to raise awareness and we can make it twice as big next year.”

In advance of the event Nikki said: “The 10th of July was the day Lee was killed. It’s obviously one of the worst days of the year for our family but I would be really proud to look out the window and see everyone going to school dressed up.”

More than 20 schools and workplaces took part in Scotty’s Day. They were all sent a two minute DVD recorded by children explaining the charity and what it does.

They were also provided with Scotty’s Little Solider tattoos and wristbands.

Funds were raised through dressing up days, cake sales and the sale of the tattoos and wristbands.

Gregory Hill, headteacher at Howard Junior School, said: “We themed all our lessons on the day around being in the Army and the Scotty’s Little Soldiers charity.”

Other schools and organisations who took part in the day included: North and South Wootton primary schools, Highgate Infant, Springwood High, St Michael’s Primary and Greyfriars Primary, in Lynn, Snettisham Primary, Marham Junior and Tilney All Saints Primary. Asda at South Wootton and sterile services at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital also took part as did schools elsewhere in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Doncaster.

Members of the charity team visited schools with the Scotty’s Little Soldier mascot.